Ezekiel 45:4
קֹ֣דֶשׁ מִן־הָאָ֜רֶץ ה֗וּא לַכֹּ֨הֲנִ֜ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֤י הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶ֔ה הַקְּרֵבִ֖ים לְשָׁרֵ֣ת אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם מָקֹום֙ לְבָ֣תִּ֔ים וּמִקְדָּ֖שׁ לַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃
Fronted Predicate: קֹ֣דֶשׁ מִן־הָאָרֶץ הוּא
The phrase קֹ֣דֶשׁ מִן־הָאָרֶץ הוּא (“It is a holy [portion] from the land”) is a nominal clause with a fronted predicate for emphasis. קֹ֣דֶשׁ (“holiness” or “holy portion”) is the subject complement, and מִן־הָאָרֶץ (“from the land”) functions as a genitive descriptor. The pronoun הוּא marks this clause as a formal identification — a feature common in Ezekiel’s priestly language.
Designation to the Priests: לַכֹּ֨הֲנִים מְשָׁרְתֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
לַכֹּ֨הֲנִים (“to the priests”) marks the recipients of the holy portion. מְשָׁרְתֵי is a Piel participle plural construct from ש־ר־ת (“to minister, serve”), meaning “servants of.” It is in construct with הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (“the sanctuary”). Thus, this portion is “to the priests, servants of the sanctuary.” This construct chain emphasizes function and role.
Verbal Clause: יִֽהְיֶה הַקְּרֵבִ֖ים לְשָׁרֵת
יִֽהְיֶה is a Qal imperfect 3ms of ה־י־ה (“to be”), and here it governs the clause “it shall be.” The subject is the portion of land; the predicate is הַקְּרֵבִ֖ים לְשָׁרֵת אֶת־יְהוָה — “those who draw near to minister to YHWH.” הַקְּרֵבִים is a Hiphil participle mp from ק־ר־ב, meaning “those who approach.” It’s used here of priests who serve at the altar.
Purpose Clause: וְהָיָה לָהֶם מָקֹום לְבָתִּים
וְהָיָה is a Qal perfect 3ms used with the vav-consecutive to indicate future result: “and it shall be.” לָהֶם is a prepositional phrase — “for them.” מָקֹום לְבָתִּים (“a place for houses”) denotes their residential allotment. The structure links the priests’ service to their inheritance — spatially and theologically.
Appositional Phrase: וּמִקְדָּשׁ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ
וּמִקְדָּשׁ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ is poetic and emphatic. It can be translated “and a sanctuary for the sanctuary,” possibly meaning “a holy place adjoining the sacred precinct.” The repetition may denote an inner sanctum or symbolic reinforcement of holiness. This apposition intensifies the thematic centrality of sacred space in priestly administration.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Ezekiel 45:4
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| הוּא | ־ | Independent pronoun (3ms) | Used for formal identification |
| מְשָׁרְתֵי | ש־ר־ת | Piel participle construct (mp) | “Servants of” — modifying sanctuary |
| יִֽהְיֶה | ה־י־ה | Qal imperfect (3ms) | “It shall be” — predictive function |
| הַקְּרֵבִים | ק־ר־ב | Hiphil participle (mp) | “Those who draw near” — priestly proximity |
| וְהָיָה | ה־י־ה | Qal perfect (3ms with vav-consec) | Future result clause: “and it shall be” |
The Grammar of Sacred Space
In Ezekiel’s vision, grammar is not neutral — it structures holiness. Through nominal clauses, participles, and prepositional constructions, the sacred portion of land becomes not just property, but theological real estate. The participles define role, the imperfect verbs mark function, and the repetition of מִקְדָּשׁ seals the sanctity. Language becomes architecture — and architecture, liturgy.
